AREA BRIEFS

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Volunteers in Northampton Schools (VINS) is placing literacy volunteers in classrooms to help teachers in their work with students.

A free training program will start in March for VINS Literacy Volunteers who want to help in our elementary schools. A professional reading specialist will offer training on the basics of how students learn to read and write, differentiated instruction and techniques for supporting struggling readers. Participants will learn interactive read-aloud techniques and the core principles of the Reading and Writing Workshop approach in use in a number of classrooms.

Volunteers should be able to commit to 15 hours of free professional training and volunteer weekly in a classroom, at least through the end of this school year.

The training sessions will be on Thursday mornings, starting today, and on March 28, April 11, April 25, May 9, May 23. If you are interested, contact Lynn Barclay, VINS Coordinator, 587-1332 or visvolunteer@gmail.com. More information is available at the VINS website.

This training is funded through a grant from the Northampton Education Foundation.

WALK/RUN: “The Garden: A Center for Grieving Children and Teens” will hold its 15th annual “Walk/Run to Remember” fundraising event on April 27 at 9:30 a.m. The event seeks to raise awareness and support for Valley families who have experienced the death of a loved one. The 5K road race/1 mile walk starts and stops at the Hampshire Regional YMCA on Prospect Street and is followed by refreshments, prizes, a bounce house and swimming. Registration is available online at www.hrymca.org.

A bereavement support program of the Hampshire Regional YMCA, The Garden offers an array of services in support of grieving families, including support groups, grief education and presentations, a lending library and consultation to school districts. The Garden serves families with children ages 5-18 years at no charge for as long as they need the support. For more information, contact Director Shelly Bathe Lenn at 584-7086, ext. 124 or shell.thegarden@gmail.com.

Granby

SPRING FLING FUNDRAISER: Over 100 items will be offered for a silent auction and Chinese raffles on March 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Willits Hallowell Center on the grounds of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley to raise money to help furnish the new Granby Library. The Willits Hollowell Center is at 26 Park St.

Hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be offered. Tickets are $25 per person and are available at the library beforehand. Purchase of a ticket also includes five raffle tickets, which can be used for Chinese Raffle items. Prizes include a tour of the LEGO 3D Model Shop for 6 to 8 people with a master LEGO builder, a weekend on Cape Cod, sculptures, pottery, paintings, golf foursomes, tennis lessons, piano lessons, a ride in a fire truck and police cruiser, restaurant gift certificates, YMCA and Children’s Museum memberships and more.

A complete list of items is available on the library’s website, www.granbylibrary.com, or at the library, 1 Library Lane. The library is open five days a week, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursdays, from 1 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, call 467-3320